No dole for Dad

Here's an interesting proposal from the Family Edge newsletter.

SHOULD CHILDREN HELP SUPPORT UNEMPLOYED PARENTS?

A German politician has stirred up controversy with a proposal to extend children's financial responsibility for their unemployed parents. Currently the German government reduces unemployment payments to parents who have children living at home and earning, where there is no clear separation of finances. The law even applies to unemployed siblings, uncles, aunts and non-relatives living in the same household.

Now, the secretary general of the Christian Democrats -- Chancellor Angela Merkel's party -- wants to extend the law to children and parents not sharing the same house. Ronald Pofalla said that, just as a working father supports his son under 25, so should a "30-something son support his unemployed father over 50 if he is financially able to do so."

Fellow CDU members are among critics of Pofalla's proposal, saying it will make young people think twice about whether it is worth trying to make a living in Germany. Others say 30-year-olds cannot begin their careers, start families, support their parents and still save for retirement. The president of the German Association for Social Affairs says the social welfare system, not the family, is responsible for supporting the unemployed. ~ Deutsche Welle, August 8